The net is set to catch the fish as the ponds
were drained.
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By Cyndy Carrington Miller
Anyone driving by the Bay Street Ponds may have noticed the activity there lately. The ponds are undergoing renovations that will allow them to function better as a collection area and sediment trap for more than 700 acres of Easton watershed.
As part of the renovations, the ponds were dredged to remove much of the silt that currently limits their capacity. In order to do the dredging, the ponds had to be drained and the fish had to be removed. John Foster and Charles Miller of Environmental Consulting Service of Middletown, DE immediately offered their services at no cost to trap the fish. Skip Bason of Delmarva Aquatics in Smyrna, DE brought aerated tanks to transport the fish for release in other ponds.
The fish corralling was accomplished in one afternoon. The number of fish was smaller than expected, and it was discovered that the ponds were the home to one angry snapping turtle who didn't like the intruders (see below).
Charlie Miller holds the angry turtle by the tail before releasing in the stream. |
All the fish were transported to live in new ponds and the snapping turtle was carefully released downstream. After the ponds have been dredged, renovated and refilled, they will be restocked with bass and bluegills.
The Waterfowl Festival was awarded a grant for the renovations through the Maryland Department of the Environment's Water Quality Financing Administration, utilizing funding available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Environmental Concern of St. Michaels is providing guidance and assistance for the project, which is scheduled to be completed by the fall.
